The New Orleans Saints beefed up their secondary with a future Hall of Famer as the team agreed to terms with cornerback Champ Bailey on a two-year deal, the franchise announced Friday afternoon.

The
terms of the contract weren't immediately available, but ESPN reported the deal maxes out at $7 million. The Saints were
$1,989,141 under the salary cap as of midday Friday, according to the
NFL Players Association.

Bailey is expected to compete with Corey White and Patrick Robinson for the job opposite starting cornerback Keenan Lewis.

"I have a little more to my game, I believe, especially mentally,"
Bailey said via the Saints' website. "I can see things a lot easier, a lot of things come up
that I've had experience with. That only helps your game. I'm using that
to my advantage as much as possible because I know how much you've got
to be mentally ready for this well, as well as physically ready.

"When
you have a lot of young, energetic guys that want to prove that they
belong in this game and prove that they're one of the best - you've got a
young Kenny Vaccaro, how much is Jairus Byrd going to help him? How
much can I help them? How much can they help me?

"I just like the
situation I'm going into because I know these guys are going to be
hungry and we can all be biting each other's style as far as what it's
going to take to be great. And I'm excited to be a part of it."

Bailey spent the past 10 seasons with the Broncos but only played in five regular-season games last season because of a foot injury. Bailey did return to play in all three Broncos postseason games, including the Super Bowl loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Denver released Bailey last month shortly before the start of free agency.

"We are excited to be able to add a future Hall of Fame player with the addition of Champ Bailey," Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said in a statement. "His career accomplishments mirror that of his high
character, and he's a very prideful and competitive player who we believe
will add to our defense.

"Having spent time with him recently and in our
discussions with him, I know that he's thrilled
to be joining the New Orleans Saints and starting a new chapter in his
professional life."

Bailey, 35, is a seven-time All-Pro and 12-time Pro Bowl player. He spent his career with Washington and Denver. The 6-foot, 192-pound cornerback has 52 interceptions in his 15-year career, though he didn't have any this past season.

Bailey also said the Saints never talked to him about playing anywhere other than at cornerback, according to USA Today.

"It's going to be a honor to learn from one of the best, I would learn as much as possible," Lewis said about Bailey via his Instagram account.

Other new and former teammates chimed in on Bailey's signing via Twitter on Friday.

White
took over as the starter last season when Jabari Greer, who the Saints
released earlier this offseason, sustained a season-ending knee injury
during the team's Week 11 win over San Francisco. Robinson is coming off
a season-ending knee injury sustained in Week 2 at Tampa Bay.

"Grew up watching the FHOF Champ Bailey now I have an great opportunity to play with him," White said via Twitter. "Glad to have him part of #WhoDatNation."

Bailey also said quarterback Drew Brees was a major factor in him coming to New Orleans.

"That's almost No. 1," Bailey, a teammate of Peyton Manning's for two seasons with the Broncos, told the Denver Post. "You play in this league a long time, you know how important that position is."

The Bailey deal could signify the end of the road for safety Rafael Bush with the Saints. Bush, a restricted free agent, signed an offer sheet with the Falcons on Thursday. The Saints have until Tuesday (April 8) to match the offer.

With the Saints making this move, the team probably doesn't possess the salary cap space to hang onto Bush. The Saints would receive no compensation from the Falcons if Bush leaves as the Saints tendered the safety at a no-compensation level with a one-year, $1.4 million deal.